New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-09-17
PROHIBITION ~ TENNESSEE.

The LIQUOR men seem to be alarmed by the
canvass now making for the prohibition
amendment in Tennessee. Ihe National Pro-
tectiye Association of DistIiers and Wholesale
Nbiskey Dealers has been in session at Gin
cinnati TO devise means for fighting the amend
mont IL is announced that $4,000 Is to be
raised at once and sent into the State. As
the election takes place IN less than a fort
night, the time would seem to be short IN
deed for prosclytizing, though not, perhaps
for bribery. In any event, the moral eheet
Of their action will be to help the amendment
more than their money can hurt IT,
Nevertheless, the impression has prevailed
that the prohibitiOnists would meet with DC
feat as they did in Texas. III so 1t VIII DC
another added to many recent proofs, III thc
South As well rs elsewhere, that the poiiticai
course Of the Prohibitonists Is direct NH
drance and injury to the cause OF temperance
Wherever they have been content to WORK Ior
prohibition in counties and towns under inc
local option law they have met with cxceilehe
success. In Missouri the other day, Tor en-
annie. sixteen counties voted for prohibition
under the local option law; fourteen had done
SO two wears before, making in all thirty Out
G.
cnc-fourth-in which prohibition is established
by law. and can doubtless be enforced III large
measure, because it has clearly the sentiment
OF the community behind it. In Oeofgla more
than onc-half of the counties have been made
temperance counties in the same way. In
Texas the Prohbitionists were not content l"
work by the same gradual methods, but iorocd
an amendment to the Constitution upon the
voters Of the whole State, with the result that
they we're overwhelmingly beaten But that
il not all The campaign was 50 bitter, ana
tho feelino apainst some of the Democratic
leaders who favored the amendment Is still
N strong. that il is believed that 1t VIII BE-
wears before temperance work is in so good
a shape as il was before the agitation Tor the
amendment began. The same thing may
prove 10 be true in Tennessee. In thai state
,oo. temperance has been making great strides
through local option. law was passed sew
eral years ago prohibiting the sale oil liquors
within four miles OF an Incorporated cohcgc
or school unless situated IN an Incorporated
city, or Town. This was used in two ways to
secure practical prohibition IN counties "herc
The temperance sentiment was strong Io"hS
surrendered their charters and schools were
INCORPORATED or established, until now prohiDi-
tion is said To be the rule outside OF moor
uorated cities and towns. But the energy that
MIGHT have been used III this work has oeen
spent In the effort TO secure law when can
hot, perhaps. DC secured, and which IN any
event. can hardly be enforced. The system
oI local option by counties which has worked
20 well in Missouri aud Georgia exists IN It's
essentials in Illinois and other States; and Is
recommended it may do no harm to point
out here. by the Republican Convention Tor
adoption in this State.
II would be Il strange and interesting result
If the temperance agitation Throughout the
South resulted IN freeing the negro vote, even
TO limited extent, from suppression In
Tennessee it is believed that the whites are
about equally divided ON this question: ana
both sides accordingly are lighting hard Tor
The black vote, which is about onc-fourth oil
the whole. The Tennessee campaign differs
FUN that in Texas in some interesting par
t,culars. though it resembles il IN being
campaign purely upon principle NO officers
arc TO be elected. The Texas campaign was
carried on by the politicians; that in Tennessee
il conducted largely by the ministers and the
Womcns Christian Temperance Union.
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